XTERRA Puerto Rico Moves the Road to Ruidoso Through Cabo Rojo

April 20, 2026

April 20, 2026 /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ –  XTERRA Puerto Rico took over Combate Beach in Cabo Rojo on April 18-19, as trail runners, triathletes, duathletes, youth athletes, families, and supporters filled the shoreline and surrounding trails for two full days of racing and community fun.

Saturday set the weekend in motion with trail events that welcomed participants into the landscape before Sunday’s off-road triathlons and duathlon carried the festivities forward. Conditions across the weekend were favorable as athletes and spectators gathered early along the coast with Sunday afternoon temperatures reaching a high of 29°C (84°F).

In the Full Distance Triathlon elite field, Americans Branden Rakita and Amanda Felder were the first man and woman across the line. Among the age group standouts, Jennifer Mercer of the USA was the first female, and Puerto Rico’s Javid Rodriguez delivered a heroic performance for his home crowd as the first male to cross the line on home soil. Full results are available on the XTERRA Puerto Rico event page.

From the beachside setting to the steady presence of local families, supporters, and volunteers, the final push across the line carried a parade-like energy, with people cheering athletes on, enjoying smoothies, grabbing great coffee, and taking in the action. Cabo Rojo is a very low-key place with the roots of what is still a rustic place, and not overdeveloped, giving it its own identity within the 2026 XTERRA World Tour.

The weekend got going on Saturday with the 21K Trail Half Marathon as part of the XTERRA Trail Run World Series, while the 10K gave more people a way to be part of it. Stephanie McAfee of Cabo Rojo, who took on the 10K, spoke to that side of the event best: “I’m one of those people that is considered an average or slow runner. And this is great for people like me because there’s a lot of people who have to walk up hills and run down hills and we feel included in activities like this because we don’t have to go as fast as everybody.”

XTERRA Puerto Rico also carried added weight on the trails, with athletes racing to earn their places at the 30th edition of the XTERRA World Championship in Ruidoso, New Mexico, while the Sprint Triathlon served as an important Youth Tour stop in the Americas region for Youth A, Youth B, and Junior athletes working toward the XTERRA Youth World Championship.

Cabo Rojo left its mark through the people as much as the place. “It’s super exciting to do this as a volunteer,” said Luismi Lopez of Puerto Rico. “For everyone around the world who came to Puerto Rico, they got to enjoy the weather, the views, the beach and the mountains.” He also saw that feeling carry all the way to the finish. “Everyone arriving at the finish line were super happy. They congratulated each other and said the trails were intense, but very fun.”

Aubrey Ruiz shared another side of the weekend: “Me and my husband’s anniversary was actually this week. We got married in Puerto Rico, and we were planning on doing an April race anyways, so we saw that there was one happening in Puerto Rico, and we decided to take part and celebrate our anniversary.”

The road to Ruidoso continues forward, with XTERRA Americas on Instagram sharing highlights from the season during XTERRA’s 30th year.

About XTERRA

Born on the Hawaiian shores of Maui in 1996, XTERRA has grown into a global outdoor lifestyle brand rooted in exploration, community, and care for the natural world. With deep roots in off-road racing, XTERRA now inspires connection through events, storytelling, and apparel built to move through nature. From local gatherings to world-class events, XTERRA is a way of life shaped by the land beneath our feet and the stories we share along the way.